Cushion rubber heel



pril 27, 1937.

R. H. BOAG CUSHION RUBBER HEEL Filed Jan. 6, 1936 Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES 2 Claims.

This invention relates toy the rubber heels for boots and shoes of the known general type in which the heel is formed with an air holding cavity made by hollowing its top inside portion so as to leave a rim or ledge around the edge of the top, which then constitutes the jointing face with the boot or shoe bottom in tting the heel thereon.

The object of the present invention is to provide a construction of heel of this nature that is adapted to be permanently fastened to the boot or shoe and that affords by its novel features of construction, a firm resistance against distortion in its shape through the wearing pressures and stresses to which it is subjected, and also affords facility for its attachment to the boot or shoe.

The invention comprises the construction of the heel with the hollow or cavity opening down from its top, leaving an overhanging top rim edge all round, and with vertical buttress pillars in its side walls at intervals around the edge of the cavity, and the combination with the heel of a flat metal plate of a particular shape let into it below the rim edge, to extend over the cavity and act as a brace to the heel Walls. This plate is so made as to be adapted to overlie the aforesaid buttress pillars in the heel walls, and to afford a springy gripping action upon the rim edges above, when the plate is fastened to the sole of the boot, in order to draw these edges firmly up into engagement with such sole. Such fastening is effected by means of screw studs passed downwardly through the sole and screwing into threaded holes formed in the plate, at approved positions within the rim of the heel.

This construction and the mode of attachment of the heel are shown in the accompanying drawn ing, in whichz- Figure 1 is a plan of the complete heel fitting.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the heel shown secured to the boot sole.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the rubber part of the heel.

Figure 5 is a plan of the metal strengthening and securing plate for the heel.

Figure 6 is a section thereof as formed in an alternative manner.

In giving effect to the invention the heel is made in the general manner already known, with the air cavity A in its upper surface, leaving its walls B and bottom C of any desired thickness. In this invention, however, the top edge o f the cavity A is made with an overhanging rim edge D which forms the jointing surface for lfitting on to the PATENT oFFlcE Robert Hamilton Boag, Otahuhu, New Zealand Application January 6, 1936, Serial No. 57,860

heel portion of the boot sole, such surface being formed concave, as shown, to make the close joint required. Also the walls B are reinforced in their strength by their formation with vertical buttress pillars E at appro-ved intervals, four of these being shown in the drawing. The bottom C may be reinforced by its formation with a number of ribs rF extending in parallel lines across its inner surface.

With the rubber heel thus made, a reinforcing metal plate G is combined. This is shaped, as shown in Figure 5, and is inserted in the heel as shown in Figures 1 to 3 so that it extends over the top of the cavity A and its edge conforms with the shape of the cavity to extend in beneath the rim edge D all round. Its edge also is shaped with projections G in order that these projections shall extend into slots formed between the tops of the buttress pillars E and the rim edge. In position in the heel therefore, this plate serves to strengthen the heel against distortion through side stresses and strains and to maintain the shape and eiiiciency of the heel in its use.

This plate G is also so made that the central portion is given a concavo-convex form as at H and is formed with screw stud receiving apertures J at approved positions around the said central portion, and within the area left uncovered by the heel rim edge D. These holes are designed for use in fastening the heel to the boot sole K (Figures 2 and 3) by the employment of screw studs M passed down through the sole from the inside of the boot and which screws then act to draw the plate upwardly so that its edges will clamp the rim edge D of the heel rmly against the sole all round. The camber in the plate formed by the aforesaid shaping of its central portion will serve to more effectually seal the edges of the heel on to the boot sole and, in addition, will impart a springiness to the fastening that will aid the general resiliency of the heel in its wearing uses. In most instances it is preferred that the plate G shall be arranged in the heel in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3, with the central camber extending upwardly, but in some instances it may be arranged as in Figure 6 with the camber disposed downwardly. The heel is retained on the plate by reason of the fact that the platel in the first place, is inserted in the heel by having the rubber rim stretched over its edges and then engage it between the sides of the heel and between the rim edge and the aforesaid pillars.

I claim:-

1. A rubber cushion heel for boots and shoes of the type in which the heel is formed with an air 10 edge and the buttress pillar tops, and which metal plate is also shaped as to its central portion of concave-convex formation, substantially as and for the purposes specied.

2. A cushion rubber heel according to claim 1, in which the said metal plate is made with a number of screw stud receiving apertures positioned to come Within the area bounded by and left uncovered by the rim edge of the rubber heel.

ROBERT HAMILTON BOAG. 

